Review: The music on this two disc set is some of the greatest sacred and secular repertoire ever written for treble voices, selected to showcase the talents of the young members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. The first disc, "Heaven," contains sacred music both accompanied and a cappella. Two of our favorites are mini-masterworks, Benjamin Britten's lovely "Missa Brevis in D," for voices and organ, and Francis Poulenc's mysterious "Litanies a la vierge noire." Disc II, "Earth," focuses on secular music to capture human qualities such as sorrow, joy, humor and hope. The centerpieces of the disc are three new commissions by Gabriela Lena Frank, Augusta Read Thomas and Dwight Nakamura. Frank's beautiful settings of two Peruvian poems, Thomas' elegant use of E.E. Cummings' poetry and Nakamura's jazzy take on Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" are all very special. Conductor Susan McMane directs this renowned chorus in 24 beautiful tunes. A wonderfully packaged set with extensive liner notes would make a memorable, timeless holiday gift to your family and to others on your list!

Songlist: Psalm 150, Ave Verum, Missa Brevis In D, Toccata from Suite Pour L'orgue, Glory to God for This Transient Life, Litanies a la virge noire, Ave Maria, Ave Verum Corpus, Ave Maria, Ave Maria, I Dream a World, I Cannot Dance O Lord, The Water of Tyne, Two Mountain Songs, Two E.E. Cummings Songs, I Got Rhythm, National Weather Forcast, Blue Skies, Over the Rainbow

Review: The 11 to 16 years old, 41-strong San Francisco Girls Chorus, conducted by Sharon J. Paul, was founded in 1978 and has established an international reputation through appearances at concerts,festivals and competitions, and radio programs such as NPR. Dwight Okamura accompanies on piano and Sarah Voynow on harp. "A San Francisco Christmas" features Britten's "A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28," "Personent Hodie," arranged by John Rutter, "Joy To The World," "Away In A Manger," "Good King Wenceslas," "Dime el Camino," "Ave Maria," "More I Cannot Wish You," and "Silent Night." The angelic voices of these young women soar as if in a cathedral, singing difficult classical music effortlessly and perfectly. A triumph!

Songlist: Procession, Wolcum Yole, There Is No Rose, That Yonge Child, Balulalow, As Dew In Aprille, This Little Babe, Interlude, In Freezing Winter Night, Spring Carol, Deo Gracias, Recession, Personent Hodie, Joy To The World, Away In A Manager, Good King Wenceslas, Dime El Camino, Ave Maria, More I Cannot Wish You, Silent Night

Review: Founded in 1978, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, for girls 11-16, conducted by Sharon J. Paul, has established an international reputation through appearances at concerts,festivals and competitions, and radio programs such as NPR. Technically, this CD is by Chorissima, the 41-strong acclaimed concert and touring ensemble of the SFGC. This is a powerful, impressive, internationally-flavored CD of 17 songs most lightly accompanied, from David Brunner's "Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia," and Pablo Casals' "Nigra Sum," to the Mexican folk song "Las Amarillas." The beautiful, extensive liner notes have all the words. Marvelous!

Songlist: Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia, Nigra Sum, Como Tu, Schlof Main Kind, Heaven Bound Train, Deep River, J'entend Le Moulin, My Lagan Love, Bellbird, Rainbird, Niska Banja, Taivas On Sininen, Picking The Seedpods Of Lotus, The Cataract Of Mount Lu, Queen Jane, Sachaki, Sachaki, Las Amarillas

Review: The San Francisco Girls Chorus, conducted by Sharon J. Paul, was founded in 1978. The 11 to 16 years old, 45-strong chorus has established an international reputation through appearances at concerts, festivals and competitions, and radio programs such as NPR. Subtitled "Songs Of The 20th Century," is from 20th century composers such as Charles Davidson, who put the poetry and artwork of young Holocaust victims into "I Never Saw Another Butterfly," the first 9 songs of this CD. Then come works by Grau, Pablo Casals, Ernst Krenek, Virgil Thompson, Arne Mellnas, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Judith Shatin and Laszlo Halmos, all sung by the girls' beautiful soprano voices. Dwight Okamura accompanies on piano and Todd Manley on percussion.

Songlist: It All Depends On How You Look At It , Man Proposes, God Disposes, Terezin, The Butterfly, The Garden, The Little Mouse On A Sunny Evening, Yes, That's The Way Things Are, Birdsong, Como Tu, Nigra Sum, In Paradisum, Seven Songs From The Medea Of Euripides, Aglepta, "Suite" De Lorca, The Wendigo, Tavaszi Kantata

Review: The 11 to 16 years old members of San Francisco Girls Chorus, led by conductor Sharon J. Paul, have established an international reputation, since their founding in 1978, through appearances at concerts,festivals and competitions, and radio programs such as NPR. This is actually Chorissima, the 41-member concert and touring ensemble of the Chorus, and this is a tour-de-force CD of 17th century Italian sacred music. The angelic voices perform 32 classic, soaring songs by such composers as Vivaldi, Porta, Porpora and Brusa. Accompanied by various strings, oboe, trumpet and organ. Beautiful!

Songlist: GLORIA IN D MAJOR, RV 589 (c. 1716) ANTONIO VIVALDI, Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Et In Terra PaxHominibus, Laudamus Te, Gratias Agimus Tibi, Domine Deus, Rex Coelestis, Domine Fili Unigenite, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Qui Tollis Peccata Mundi, Qui Sedes Ad Dexteram Patris, Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus, Cum Sancto Spritu, PANGE LINGUA NO.2 , Pange Lingua Gloriosi, In Supremae Nacte Coenae, Tantum Ergo Sacramentum, MAGNIFICANT, Magnificant Anima Mea Dominum, Et Exultavit, Et Misericordia, Fecit Potentiam, Gloria Patri, Sicut Erat In Principio, MISSA PRO DEFUNCTIS, Introitus: Requiem, Kyrie: Maestoso, Christe: Andantino, Kyrie: Capella, Sequentia : Dies Irae, Mors Stupebit, and more

Review: Beginning in 2004 with their desire to record "Anne Frank, A Living Voice," written for Chorissima's 25th Anniversary, "Voices" is the result of their search for work by women writers like Frank, who were longing for change in their situations. Joan Szymko's powerful "Vivos Voco" and "Nada Te Turbe" (with text by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-82), "A Hope Carol," and "Echo," which feature wonderful poems by Christina Rossetti (1830-94), and "I Shall Keep Singing," with text by Emily Dickinson, are fine examples. Libby Larsen's "The Womanly Song of God" and "Sing Me to Heaven," with text by Jane Griner, lead us into the lovely, haunting 7-part "Anne Frank, A Living Voice," which touches and moves us on many levels. "Hebrew Rounds for Peace" is an apt choice for the final tune. Light accompaniment throughout, and extensive, colorful liner notes. "Voices" is another beautiful, powerful, well-chosen collection by Susan McMane's talented San Francisco Girls Chorus.

Songlist: Vivios Voco, A Hope Carol, Echo, Nada Te Turbe , I Shall Keep Singing , The Womanly Song Of God, Sing Me To Heaven, Anne Frank: A Living Voice, Hebrew Rounds For Peace